Wife's Bitter Revenge Against Neglectful CEO Husband-Chapter 61: Nan’s Back

King

King was dazed after that kiss. He had no idea Teela had that kind of passion in her. He’d missed out all these years because he listened to other people instead of talking to Teela.

Now, it might be too late. King hoped not, but he couldn’t blame Teela if she’d had enough. King knew he was fed up with his mom’s antics, and this new information about human trafficking was beyond belief.

But even without the family drama, King was aware enough to realize his marriage was not a good one. The best he could do now was make it up to Teela and salvage whatever relationship he could with the woman. He owed her that. He owed her mother at least that much.

If giving his balls to Teela for a few days helped make things right with Teela, then King could suffer the damage to his manhood.

"Min, order a dozen roses. Have them delivered to Teela at work."

Nan said, "I’ll take care of it."

King turned and saw Nan trailing his guards with a notebook in her hands.

"What are you doing here?"

"I received a call last night. I was told I was reassigned as your executive secretary."

"Min, take care of the flowers. Nan, you come with me."

Nan followed King into his office. King shut the door behind them.

"Who called you?"

"Mrs. Heavenly."

"Didn’t you think that was a little odd?"

Nan sat on the sofa, seductively crossing her legs. It was a challenge to decide which was more alluring—the long, taut legs or the ruby-red lips, so full, slightly parted.

"Or are you so accustomed to talking to the retired head of Heavenly Enterprises that it was just another day of the week?"

"A little of both, I suppose. Either way, I’d never turn down the opportunity to work beside you again. I’ve missed you, you know."

The stupid woman all but admitted she took orders from Mom. King wondered how long it had been going on. It explained why Mom suggested that he take Nan to events as an escort.

As long as King had Nan at his side, Mom had a play-by-play of his every decision. She could influence business decisions from the shadows while King played the figurehead CEO, always in charge and always successful. Always available to take the fall should something go wrong.

It made King wonder if anything in his life was real.

Regardless, this seemed like one of those situations Teela could use to her advantage in dealing with Mom.

King pulled out his cell and sent Teela a text. This might be fun.

Teela

I was on my way to Crazy Code when King’s text came through. Mom sent Nan to keep an eye on me. Do you have any suggestions?

I texted back. BRB.

Was it wrong that I was looking forward to this? I kind of wished I could bring Bea with me.

In high school, a skank had tried to steal Bea’s boyfriend. Bea cornered the girl off campus and put a serious hurt on her, but it wasn’t the beatdown that stuck in my mind. It was the crazy look on Bea’s face as if all semblance of control was gone.

It was so unlike the peace-loving Bea who showered me with love and understanding. But I was always aware that deep down Bea was capable of a dangerous kind of crazy.

I wondered if I should channel that crazy against Nan. She certainly deserved it. Even if I was able to ignore the fact that she had a long-term affair with my husband, she came back to spy for the enemy.

Nan needed to be more scared of me than she was Lettie. Knowing everything I knew, that was a hard ask.

So, I spent the trip ramping up my anger, focusing all the pain and frustration I felt toward Lettie on Nan. It might not have been fair, but it was necessary if I was going to pull this off.

I stormed the executive floor of the Heavenly building with my men at my back and Jake at my side. Min was waiting for us at the reception desk. He fell in on my other side. With Min with us, no one dared to stop us. They would have failed had they tried.

Nan’s desk was located right outside of King’s office. She wasn’t there. I marched into King’s office. Found her. She sat on the sofa, writing in a notebook. King was at his desk, ignoring her.

I faced King. "Get out. Shut the door behind you."

Smart man. He nodded and left.

Nan appeared unphased, except for a slight bounce of her foot.

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"Uh, I have a job to do."

"King sent you away. Why are you back?"

"Mrs. Heavenly overruled King’s directive. She thought he could use someone he could trust at his side."

"Or is it someone she can trust at his side?"

Nan shrugged. "It’s the same difference. Lettie trusts me with her son and not you."

"Well, I’m here to overrule Lettie’s decision, Nan."

Nan giggled. "Exactly what can a housewife like you do to me?"

"Oh, honey, you have no idea."

I pulled out my phone and called Stiff. "Erase Nan Puckett."

"Erase me? What are you threatening to kill me now? You don’t have it in you."

"You’re right. I don’t. But I have no problem erasing your bank accounts, your Social Security number, your birth certificate, college degree, employment history, library account, credit cards, your apartment lease, utility accounts. Oh, your gym membership, medical records.

"In less time than it takes to have you tossed out on your ass, you will no longer exist. Try surviving in the city without an official identity."

"You’re joking. No one can do that."

I leaned over her. "I’m not just anyone, bitch. I’m your worst nightmare."

Nan pulled back to slap me, but I caught her hand and held it.

"Do you really want to go there, Nan? Because I have a dozen men waiting for me right outside that door. One whimper from me, and they are all over you.

"Oh, that reminds me, your medical insurance is gone as well."

"Bullshit."

"You don’t believe me? Check your phone."

Nan pushed buttons but nothing happened.

"Oh, that’s right. No cell service. By the end of the day, I imagine your phone number will be reassigned to a new subscriber because you don’t exist."

"I didn’t do anything to you. Why are you doing this to me?"

"You fucked my husband!"

"He came to me. Beside, if I didn’t do it, someone else would. You weren’t taking care of him."

"Did you know he was married?"

"Yes, but—"

"No but, two wrongs don’t make a right."

"You forgave King."

Oh boy, that was a tough one. The truth was I hadn’t forgiven King, but if Nan was spying for Lettie, she didn’t need to know that.

I took a breath.

"Okay. Fair point. But that doesn’t mean I have to forgive you."

"It’s not fair to forgive him and wipe my entire identity."

"News flash, Nan. Life isn’t fair."

"You can’t take my life away. Lettie won’t allow it."

"Yeah, and what makes you think that?"

Nan bit down on her lower lip as if trying to hold back a confession that could do more harm than good.

"Let me guess. You’ve answered to Lettie for a long time."

No response.

"Blink if I’m correct."

I held Nan’s gaze while she debated how to answer me. The mere fact she hesitated told me all I needed to know.

"Fine. So, take this message back to Lettie. Tell her Ben and King are mine now. If she wants a peaceful retirement, she had better keep her distance. From now on, every time she sends someone to infiltrate our people, she’ll lose something or someone she values. Do you have that?"

Nan nodded.

"Good, now get the hell out of here before I give in to the urge to bitch slap you into oblivion."

Nan made it all the way to the door before she paused. "What do I have to do to get my identity back?"

"Really? You’re asking me that? Why would I help you?"

"I’m a very good secretary. I take excellent notes of every meeting. Make me whole and I’ll give you a thumb drive detailing my meetings with Lettie."

Nan was a fool. If Lettie found out Nan was keeping a blackmail file, Nan wouldn’t need her identity back. Besides, the information was useless to me. If Nan was willing to trade her identity for a thumb drive, the original document was a hard drive, and Nan struck me as the type to use the company computer to store it.

What was it with people thinking a password actually made their data invincible?

Stupid woman. Such a stupid woman.

"Nan, I’ll make you a different deal. You disappear for thirty days. If you can survive for thirty days without making any contact with King, me, or any of my people, I’ll make you whole again."

"Teela, I can’t even book a flight home to Kansas without an ID."

"That’s your problem. I’m giving you an out. I didn’t say I’d make it easy on you."

"Huh, bitch."

"Right back at you."